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Posts for category: Dental Procedures

Summertime means outdoor adventures, and barbeques. With those summertime events you may find yourself drinking soda or other sugary drinks. You may even spend more time enjoying sugary snacks, such as cotton candy, ice cream and other treats from festivals. While these may all taste good, Dr. Yen Lieu, Natomas dentist, offers friendly advice on how to protect your teeth from sugar.

The sugar content that you consume has a big effect on the health of your teeth and gums. At Orchid Dental Group, we want you to smile big and bright all summertime, even when enjoying your favorite summer activities. When bacteria come into contact with sugar in the mouth, acid is produced, which attacks the teeth for 20 minutes or more—eventually resulting in tooth decay. When tooth decay is not properly treated it can progress and worsen, which might cause you to lose a tooth or require a tooth extraction in Sacramento.

Drinking sugar-filled sodas, sweetened fruit drinks, and non-nutritious snacks can take a toll on your teeth. Foods that contain sugars of any kind can also contribute to tooth decay, but most foods have some type of sugar in them. Rather than avoiding these foods and drinks altogether, Dr. Yen Lieu, dentist in Natomas, recommends practicing proper oral health care.

Remember to brush your teeth at least twice a day—once in the morning and once at nighttime. Throughout the day if you cannot brush your teeth after food consumption, try rinsing your mouth out with water to remove the excess food stuck to your teeth. Flossing is also an important step you should not skip as it can remove the food your toothbrush misses. Floss is also very easy to carry with you, so that you can remove food caught between your teeth throughout the day.

As always, remember to contact Orchid Dental Group to schedule your regular checkup with Dr. Yen Lieu, Sacramento dentist, so that you can maintain a healthy smile all year long.

If you find yourself smiling in the mirror, you might be picking out all your imperfections. We’re human, so it’s only natural that we do this from time to time; however, if you have begun to consider ways to improve your smile’s appearance, your Sacramento dentist has several options for getting the smile you want. We want you to be able to look in a mirror and admire your beautiful teeth, not pinpoint the flaws! Here are some ways your cosmetic dentist in Sacramento is here to help!

Orthodontics: Remove The Gaps

Want to remove space between your teeth? Tired of your front teeth overlapping or having a crooked smile? Now you can do something about that when you consider getting braces in Sacramento. You might think about braces and harken back to your good ole school days. While those memories might be pleasant, the memories you have about braces might not be the same. Just relax! Braces have come a long way since you last remember them. The metal has become sleeker, the wires thinner and the brackets are smaller.

Your Sacramento dentist also offers clear ceramic brackets, for those who wish to make their braces a little more conspicuous. Another revolutionary option is lingual braces, which are attached to the back of the teeth so they are less visible to those around you.

Invisalign: Clear Alternative to Metal Braces

If you want a straighter smile but you still can’t bring yourself to get traditional braces, then we have another option for you. While Invisalign is considered one type of braces, they are completely clear. Invisalign in Sacramento consists of a series of clear, removable trays that are customized to fit over your teeth to help move your teeth back to their proper place.

Since they are removable, you don’t have any dietary restrictions and you can take them out to eat and to brush and floss. This treatment lasts anywhere from nine months to about 15 months. If you’re a working professional or an adult considering braces but want to find a subtle way to do it, then Invisalign is the way to go!

Veneers: Update Your Smile from Chips and Cracks

So maybe braces just seem like a lot of expense and time, and you’re just not ready to commit. That’s absolutely fine! There are still options out there for you to get a beautiful smile but without the multiple dental visits and checkups. Dental veneers in Sacramento can get your smile straight in no time. Veneers are thin, porcelain shells that are affixed to the front of your tooth, to make your smile appear whiter and straighter.

Your Sacramento dentist will shave down a small part of your natural tooth to make room for the veneer. Then a special light will bond the veneer to the front of your teeth, giving you a beautifully restored smile. Veneers are a great option for those looking for a smile pick-me-up but without all the commitment and hassle.

If any of these options sound appealing, we would love to talk to you more about which treatment plan would fit your smile needs. Call us today at (916) 928-4444.

Are you a patient who’s had one of these procedures done? If so, we would love to hear your experience. Please share your inspiring stories with us about how it changed your smile and quite possibly, your life!

Orthodontic treatment is simple, suitable and affordable for patients of all ages. The dentists at Orchid Dental Group want you to know that you can have the smile of a lifetime through orthodontics. Our patients seek orthodontic treatment for different reasons such as improving appearance, better oral health, and proper oral function.

What We Offer For You

For the Sacramento region, we offer a convenient, well-suited solution for braces. It is called Invisalign. Invisalign transforms the appearance of your teeth quickly and permanently. It is also a great alternative to metal braces, which can have many downfalls. Invisalign is nearly invisible and people will hardly notice them on your teeth. Many patients have given these clean, custom-made, removable aligners a fair chance, and loved the outcome.

Invisalign Advantages

Invisalign offers many advantages for our Sacramento patients. Listed below are four benefits to Invisalign compared to metal braces.

Appearance: Unlike metal braces, which are the first thing that shows up when you smile, Invisalign is clear and hardly noticeable. You will never have to worry about food getting stuck in them because they are removed while eating.

Comfort: Invisalign can be taken out of the mouth when necessary.

Safety: Metal braces contain wire, as well as bits of metal that protrude and can puncture or scratch the inside of the mouth and gums. Invisalign reduces damage to teeth and gums because they are metal less and can be removed.

Duration of Treatment: With Invisalign, your teeth will straighten more quickly. With metal braces, it can take up to 5 years to complete treatment. Invisalign can take 1-1 ½ years to get your teeth straight.

Patients considering Invisalign will undergo planning treatment that is fully computerized. Patients will know exactly what to expect and the duration of using them. Get your beautiful smile today without the sacrifice. Call us to discuss Invisalign or to schedule an appointment with one of our certified dentists.

Understanding Tooth Extractions in Sacramento from Orchid Dental Group

Teeth are extracted for a variety of reasons – decay has reached deep into the tooth, infection has destroyed a large portion of the tooth or surrounding bone, and there is not enough room for all the teeth in your mouth. With help from our dentist in Sacramento, can remove a tooth to prevent infection, damage to adjacent teeth and bone, and to prevent pain in the years to come. Many people are discouraged at the thought of tooth extractions, but it is important to understand that this dental procedure is used to improve oral health, rather than worsen it.

Let’s Take a Look at the Tooth Extraction Process

Prior to the removal of your tooth, your dentist in Sacramento will thoroughly review your medical and dental history. Once your history is reviewed, your dentist will also take appropriate x-rays of your mouth and teeth. X-rays are used to reveal the length, shape, and position of the tooth and surrounding bone. From this information, your dentist can estimate the degree of difficulty of the procedure and decide whether to refer you to an oral surgeon.

Before your dentist removes the tooth, the area around your tooth will be anesthetized. Dentists typically use a local anesthetic to numb the area of the mouth where the extraction will take place to eliminate any pain or discomfort.

For a simple extraction, once the area is anesthetized, the tooth is loosened with the help of a tool called an elevator. Next, the tooth is extracted with dental forceps. Your dentist may also want to smooth and recontour the underlying bone. When our Sacramento dentist is finished, they may choose to close the area with a stitch.

How do I know if I need a Tooth Extraction?

By visiting us at Orchid Dental Group, our cosmetic dentist can recommend a tooth extraction. While permanent teeth were meant to last a lifetime, there are a number of reasons why a tooth extraction for a Sacramento resident may be needed. Let’s take a look:

A crowded mouth

An infection

A potential risk for an infection

Periodontal disease

For these reasons, our Sacramento cosmetic dentist may recommend that you have your teeth removed. Contact our office today to learn more about tooth extractions in Sacramento and to find out if you will need this procedure to improve your oral health.

At Orchid Dental Group, we understand that sometimes your smile needs that extra boost of confidence so that you can smile bigger and brighter. As a cosmetic dentist in Sacramento, Dr. Yen Lieu works with her patients to determine the best treatment for your smile enhancement.

When you search for a Sacramento area cosmetic dentist, we want to be your first choice for your dental needs. Dr. Yen Lieu devotes a substantial portion of her time each year to attending advanced continuing education courses to remain on the cutting edge of dental advancements in Sacramento from veneers to Invisalign and extractions.

If you are searching for a smile improvement, at Orchid Dental Group in Sacramento, CA, we offer the following cosmetic dentistry procedures:

Whether you are searching for teeth whitening, Invisalign or veneers in the Sacramento area, Dr. Yen Lieu and Orchid Dental Group are available to help you create your desired smile.

Contact Orchid Dental Group at (916) 928-4444 to schedule a consultation with our Sacramento area cosmetic dentist, Dr. Yen Lieu. At your consultation, we will determine the best procedure available to improve the appearance of your smile.